Internet Heralds
It’s Ian Greig here and I want to share something about God’s Messengers of the Internet Age. Here’s a well-known verse from Romans 10:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
…Faith comes from hearing the message…
Romans 10:14, 17 NIV
I was trained as a preacher and commissioned with words from the Bible about being a corporate craftsman who knows how to work well with God's word. What a responsibility – like a new stonemason been given a supply of the finest Portland stone and told, "Make beautiful carvings and don't waste it!"
Bur who hears preachers today?
We have been reminded in recent days of the former Queen (whose loss we lament) hearing her favourite church of Scotland preachers in the church at Crathie.
But generally speaking, it's a tiny minority who attend church now. Where are they? Watching the children play in Sunday league games or, for many, in some form of uniform, working their shift.
In between times they will connect with the world through some kind of broadcast online, or on social media. As we all do. It’s a different world
The word 'preacher' belongs with pulpits and congregants sitting in rows and galleries. It doesn't feel up close and personal, and doesn't start a conversation in the way that the new messengers of the Internet can.
Even 'messenger' conjures up a picture of richly liveried official heralds on horseback with trumpets and scrolls.
We messengers of the Lord on the internet have no uniform, no title, and no position to guarantee a hearing – but what we do have, which is its own attraction, is a royal and life-giving message to share.
We internet sharers of the good news, unlike influencers chasing followers, have a message from the King of kings and it's about following Him alone.
So not for us fame, fortune and advertisement revenue. If there is any glory, it is dangerous for us to try to share it.
But when lives are being saved and changed, we have the satisfaction of knowing we delivered the message we were given.
This is the vital message of God’s grace and invitation, that otherwise would not have reached the hearers, that this heavenly King in His unconditional love so wants to be hearing it.
REFERENCES
It’s true: “Everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will experience new life.”
But how can people call on Him for help if they’ve not yet believed? And how can they believe in One they’ve not yet heard of? And how can they hear the message of life if there is no one there to proclaim it?...
...Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.
Romans 10:13,14, 17 TPT
Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 TPT